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Following the GrabX2025 Product Launch Event on April 8, 2025, we visited Grab HQ in Singapore for an exclusive preview of their latest IoT innovations. The showcase included the KartaCam 2, KartaDongle, Mapping Alleys, GrabFood Lockers, and Bluetooth Beacons, each designed to enhance Grab’s ecosystem of services.
KartaCam 2
Let’s start with the KartaCam 2. At first glance, it resembles an Insta360 camera, but think of it as one that’s on steroids (we know it’s not in the same category, but hear us out).
Successor of the KartaCam and KartaCam360, this new version continues its purpose to collect high-quality street-level imagery for GrabMaps. The KartaCam 2 has four 48-megapixel image sensors, offering full 360-degree coverage. It integrates LiDAR for depth sensing and features improved GPS accuracy with a 10Hz frequency, resulting in better spatial detail. All of this is packed into a sleeker, more portable body that reflects Grab’s industrial design philosophy for IoT products.
What makes this camera even more impressive is its AI-powered capabilities. It can automatically retake blurry images and blur out faces and license plates for privacy, streamlining data collection while ensuring compliance with data protection standards.
Grab estimates that the KartaCam 2 has reduced hardware and imagery costs by 90 percent compared to outsourcing similar services. Its compact design allows it to navigate narrow alleys, ideal for Southeast Asia’s dense urban areas, while also enabling faster updates to maps in rapidly evolving cities. In supported countries, Grab driver-partners can even earn extra income by using these devices to collect valuable map data.
KartaDongle
The KartaDongle, introduced in 2022, is a smart in-car device that enhances GrabMaps and overall service efficiency. It collects data using 4G, Bluetooth, and high-precision GPS, helping solve regional mapping challenges such as urban canyons, tree cover, and incomplete road data.
A standout feature is its ability to monitor windshield wiper status, which enables real-time weather reporting. As a result, Grab’s weather prediction accuracy has improved dramatically from 25 percent to 75 percent. The device also partially automates the mapping of complex locations like malls, condominiums, and parking structures, reducing mapping delays and improving driver navigation.
The KartaDongle detects critical safety events such as collisions and speeding, encouraging safer driving habits. It also helps identify missing U-turns and route inefficiencies, leading to shorter travel times and better navigation.
Beyond navigation, the device aids fleet management for rental vehicles by providing accurate location data. This contributes to lower operational costs and increased driver earnings. Importantly, all data collected is anonymized and used only for its intended purposes, in line with local privacy regulations.
Bluetooth Beacons
Grab is using Bluetooth Beacons to improve delivery efficiency by tracking when drivers arrive at food outlets automatically. This innovation is designed to enhance food preparation timing and reduce waiting times for both drivers and customers.
These Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons are placed in participating restaurants and send signals to the Grab Driver app when a rider arrives, with no need for manual check-ins. This real-time data feeds into Grab’s machine learning models, helping them better predict preparation times.
After a successful pilot in Singapore, the system is now rolling out across Southeast Asia, including Manila. While adoption depends on local driver behavior and infrastructure, the benefits of accurate, automated arrival detection are already clear.
GrabFood Lockers
Finally, let’s talk about the GrabFood Lockers, a solution we hope to see in the Philippines soon.
Currently deployed in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, these smart lockers aim to resolve common food delivery challenges like crowded lobbies and unattended packages.
Customers can retrieve their orders using a QR code from the Grab app, ensuring a contactless, secure, and convenient pickup experience. The system not only maintains food hygiene and security but also allows for flexible timing, perfect for busy customers.
For delivery partners, these lockers save time by streamlining the handoff process, allowing them to complete more orders in less time, translating to higher earnings.
Property owners such as hospitals and universities have also seen benefits, with less lobby congestion and fewer demands on front desk staff. Early trials report high customer satisfaction, with many users finding the lockers intuitive and expressing interest in continued use.
With expansion plans in place for more cities, including Malaysia and the Philippines, Grab is committed to refining and expanding its smart food locker system to improve convenience and efficiency for all.
Grab’s continued investment in smart IoT solutions highlights its commitment to solving everyday logistical challenges in Southeast Asia. Whether it’s through AI-powered cameras, smarter vehicle sensors, or delivery lockers that save everyone time, the company is building a more connected and efficient digital ecosystem. As these innovations scale to more countries, users, partners, and even city planners stand to benefit from a smarter, safer, and more responsive Grab experience.
